May Jobless Rates Grim for Most States

Posted on Jun 19, 2009

As the national unemployment rate in May rose to 9.4 percent, jobless rates jumped in 48 states and hit record highs for some, reaching double digits in many cases. The winners in this depressing race are Michigan (think GM and Chrsyler), Oregon and California, which is registering its highest unemployment rate to date, 11.5 percent.

Reuters:

Signs unemployment pains may be easing in individual U.S. states in April disappeared by May, when jobless rates jumped in 48 states and the District of Columbia, according to data released on Friday.

Michigan again reported the highest unemployment rate of 14.1 percent, followed by Oregon, which notched 12.4 percent, its greatest on record, the U.S. Labor Department said.

Not only did Michigan hold the highest spot in terms of unemployment, a position it has had for 25 of the last 26 months, but the state also experienced the largest monthly increase in its rate as two American auto behemoths—General Motors and Chrysler—struggled.